Suns claim Luis Scola

[Phrazbit]

I would like to cite something I saw on realgm that will help those who see the current Suns situation the same way you do.

Its one thing to attempt to tank on purpose, its another to keep a team with a lot of flexibility and moveable assets. The Suns are building a bad, inflexible roster with no strengths and a ton of weaknesses.

You can rant about the loser mentality but good teams are not built by signing a bunch of mid level free agents to long contracts. That is how very bad teams are built and how franchises chip away at their fan base by going 34-48 for half a decade.

 

[jagu]

So what excuse are we going to make for ourselves once he starts flopping all over the court?


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At this point I would least care. He's a talented player and he'll be fun to watch on this hopeless team.

 

[Phrazbit]

He's 32 and he wasn't amnestied because he couldn't play. Make sure you get your facts straight before you argue against something.

Basically your whole reason for being is dependent on whether Michael Beasley can play well or not. What a life.

We cant trade him for a year. Thats why I listed the older age. So, my bad, 33 not 34. He declined last season quite a bit, I dont see him getting better unless he stumbles across some designer steroid. And now we have news of a knee injury.

And I didnt mention the Beaz at all but I will refrain from attacking back.

Seriously, what do you think this teams "plan" is? Do you see this roster as one that can compete on any respectable level?

 

[JS22]

All of the "let's tank so we can get a guy who can dunk over high school kids!!!!!!" whiners should have their own thread.

 

[JS22]

I am wondering how Scola's game will fit with Gortat. Seems like it is going to get a little crowded down low.

This might be the time to really explore what assets Gortat could get us.

Actually, Scola has a pretty decent jumper. (As does Gortat.) It won't get crowded.

As for the Detroit Pistons comparisons in other posts, I just don't see it. The contracts of Gordon and Villanueva were AWFUL.

 

[Cheesebeef]

All of the "let's tank so we can get a guy who can dunk over high school kids!!!!!!" whiners should have their own thread.

do you enjoy being just good enough to not make the playoffs... forever?

 

[Phrazbit]

All of the "let's tank so we can get a guy who can dunk over high school kids!!!!!!" whiners should have their own thread.

Its not about tanking. Its about having a flexible roster, with assets people want and room to grow. If you can do that AND contend for the playoffs, then great.

We are building a team that wont be in the playoff hunt, wont have assets other teams will care about trading for AND wont have good draft prospects. If we were building a fun, competitive roster then it would be one thing. But we're throwing together a roster that wont compete, with unlikable guys no one wants.

Should be a blast.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Actually, Scola has a pretty decent jumper. (As does Gortat.) It won't get crowded.

As for the Detroit Pistons comparisons in other posts, I just don't see it.

you'll see it once the season starts. 35 wins for the foreseeable future is what's in store for all of us.

 

[Mainstreet]

Good addition for the money. He averaged 18 and 8 the year before last. Hes a great stop gap until they find a PF in the draft

Just glad i dont have to watch Frye dance around down there anymore and get dunked on all the time. Frye will be a good bench guy to come in and provide a spark, if hes not shooting well, then the suns arent obligated to keep him in the game anymore

I feel just the opposite. The team will be much better starting Scola next year than it would be starting Frye or Morris(unless Morris makes massive improvements).

If the reported 4.1mil 1st year, 4.5mil 2nd year, 440k buyout 3rd year are true then this is a very good deal. That is a minimal investment for what will likely be a very valuable asset next year.

Like the move, Scola is an asset we can trade later this season if need be or even next year and he'll help Dragic get comfortable in the starting PG role this year as well.

He's 32 and he wasn't amnestied because he couldn't play. Make sure you get your facts straight before you argue against something.

Basically your whole reason for being is dependent on whether Michael Beasley can play well or not. What a life.

We agree, great move for the money. I give the Suns FO a A+ on this move... in how Scola was acquired and the cost. After all the bad moves the Suns have made in the past it, this should look like a no brainer. I guess some fans believe in tanking. I could never be a fan of a team that deliberately stunk. For once the Suns FO seems to be getting things right.

 

[Chaplin]

We cant trade him for a year. Thats why I listed the older age. So, my bad, 33 not 34. He declined last season quite a bit, I dont see him getting better unless he stumbles across some designer steroid. And now we have news of a knee injury.

And I didnt mention the Beaz at all but I will refrain from attacking back.

Seriously, what do you think this teams "plan" is? Do you see this roster as one that can compete on any respectable level?

Yes. Not championship level by any means, but certainly better than what we put out there last year.

Apologies for the personal attack.

 

[Evil Ash]

do you enjoy being just good enough to not make the playoffs... forever?

Actually the teams that consistently tank are the ones that are stuck in that pattern. OKC is one of the few exceptions and the only reason they are is because Portland took Mr Glass.

We now have a bunch of solid role players and tradeable pieces that we can use. None of the contracts that we have signed thus far are untradeable

 

[KloD]

I didn't like this move at first, but I've changed my mind. He won't be an asset to all teams in a year, but he will be to teams who believe they are contending. I can see someone like the Lakers giving up a 1st for someone who helps them today over a late round rookie (just an example).

You guys claiming the Suns don't have a plan and the front office is stupid are cracking me up. Come on, these guys did not get where they are because they don't know how to plan and are idiots. Of course they have a plan, several I'd imagine. Are they the right plans? Time will tell. But to believe they have none is just ignorant.

Ok, so say the Suns hold onto their cap space till next year. Besides the fact that they have to spend 85% of the cap this year, what do you think they will get? We are not getting Harden, no way they let him go. No way he wants to go. So what then, we end up doing exactly what they are doing this year. Signing the best they can and building up assets for future moves. What superstar is going to come to the Suns without good role players and a bench? None. I personally like that the Suns are finally bringing in assets rather than the usual selling them off for cash.

 

[Chaplin]

you'll see it once the season starts. 35 wins for the foreseeable future is what's in store for all of us.

There's no solid basis for that. It's certainly possible, but a lot of things are possible. It's looking like Gortat will be the only remaining starting lineup holdover and even you have said that Gentry is a good player's coach. So are you retracting that? Do you think Gentry can't get players to play better?

This next season is a huge question mark. Sounds like you have no desire to see how it plays out. Understandable, but it's hard to agree with the idea that it's the same old thing again when we have so many different things going on, and it sounds like more is going to happen.

 

[TJ]

At this point I would least care. He's a talented player and he'll be fun to watch on this hopeless team.

Lol I like Scola, as well.

Us Suns fans have a penchant for complaining about floppers in the NBA and now we have arguably the biggest one of them all on our team.


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[Mainstreet]

Actually the teams that consistently tank are the ones that are stuck in that pattern. OKC is one of the few exceptions and the only reason they are is because Portland took Mr Glass.

We now have a bunch of solid role players and tradeable pieces that we can use. None of the contracts that we have signed thus far are untradeable

Nice and concise. I think it's obvious that Sarver has turned over the controls of the franchise to Babby and associates. What a breath of fresh air.

 

[Cheesebeef]

There's no solid basis for that.

I guess you could say the same about people saying these are good moves or that we'll be better than last season.

It's certainly possible, but a lot of things are possible. It's looking like Gortat will be the only remaining starting lineup holdover and even you have said that Gentry is a good player's coach. So are you retracting that? Do you think Gentry can't get players to play better?

This next season is a huge question mark. Sounds like you have no desire to see how it plays out. Understandable, but it's hard to agree with the idea that it's the same old thing again when we have so many different things going on, and it sounds like more is going to happen.

i just don't see it chap.

 

[JS22]

do you enjoy being just good enough to not make the playoffs... forever?

Dragic, Beasley, and (almost Gordon / maybe Mayo) are all young and have potential. It's not like the Suns are signing a bunch of 35 year olds and trying to push for the 8 seed. I'm guessing Scola was brought here to bring some leadership and maybe even as a favor to Dragic. Not to mention he's actually a pretty decent player.

For everyone crying that the Suns should tank and get younger - ask teams like Portland, the Wizards, the Bobcats, etc, how that has been working for them. It takes luck. If the Thunder got stuck with Oden they'd be in the same situation as most of the other teams who load up on high draft picks but get nowhere.

I like the way the Suns are doing it. Taking some risks on guys who are young but have proven that they can play. (And can hopefully take it to the next level in the Suns system.)

Dragic: 26
Beasley: 23
Mayo???: 24
Morris: 22
Dudley: 27
Gortat: 28

That'd be a nice young team to build around. Maybe they could be exciting enough to entice a "superstar" that everyone seems to be clamoring for to PHX.

Sorry, I just don't see the appeal of "tanking" just to have a shot at an unproven player and hope that you get lucky.

 

[az jam]

Luis Alberto Scola Balvoa (born April 30, 1980 in Buenos Aires).

He is 32 years old not 34 as some have posted. That certainly is not old and over the hill. I like the move and think he is a solid player.

 

[Phrazbit]

Yes. Not championship level by any means, but certainly better than what we put out there last year.

Apologies for the personal attack.

Do you really think they will be better than last year?

IMO, Nash has made winning look a lot easier than it really is. I like the Dragic signing, but he is a big drop from Nash, and Nash made everyone else better. Dragic is not that kind of facilitator.

I think the loss of Nash and Hill, one player who compromised 80% of our offense, the other who was by far our best defender, and both were tremendous leaders and glue guys are the kinds of losses we cant just plug with mediocre players and assume they will keep the ball rolling.

If you took Nash off last year's team it hard to imagine them being better than something like 16-50. Dragic's a big upgrade over our backups last year, so we wont be that bad, but this team is going to seriously struggle in all aspects of the game. It looks like an extremely bad defensive and rebounding team. We have one decent facilitator and very few players who can score on their own with any efficiency. A guy like Scola makes them marginally better but doesnt move the needle even close to competition.

I think 34-48 would be an optimistic number for this team, and thats assuming the addition of Mayo.

 

[elindholm]

Scola is an okay player, but add me to the list of those who can't stand his flopping and dirty play. It's like the Suns' front office is bending over backward to drive me away as a fan.

Cheesebeef is correct that the Suns are becoming the Pistons East, clogging the roster with players who are good enough to win 35 games but have absolutely no future.

Still, this is another piece of evidence against the "Sarver is cheap" camp. He has, to e sure, many weaknesses, but cheapness isn't one of them. The Suns are now paying $10 million per year to Scola and Childress combined, all for a mediocre PF who is at best a #3 option.

 

[JS22]

I didn't like this move at first, but I've changed my mind. He won't be an asset to all teams in a year, but he will be to teams who believe they are contending. I can see someone like the Lakers giving up a 1st for someone who helps them today over a late round rookie (just an example).

You guys claiming the Suns don't have a plan and the front office is stupid are cracking me up. Come on, these guys did not get where they are because they don't know how to plan and are idiots. Of course they have a plan, several I'd imagine. Are they the right plans? Time will tell. But to believe they have none is just ignorant.

Ok, so say the Suns hold onto their cap space till next year. Besides the fact that they have to spend 85% of the cap this year, what do you think they will get? We are not getting Harden, no way they let him go. No way he wants to go. So what then, we end up doing exactly what they are doing this year. Signing the best they can and building up assets for future moves. What superstar is going to come to the Suns without good role players and a bench? None. I personally like that the Suns are finally bringing in assets rather than the usual selling them off for cash.

Quoted because you are reading my mind.

If things don't work out then the Suns will have a ton of trade-able assets plus a huge # of draft picks to play around with.

The Suns are essentially doing the opposite of what they've been doing the past 5 years. (And what everyone has been complaining about the past 5 years.) They're getting younger, building up assets, and actually enticing players to come here.

 

[sunsfan88]

Its one thing to attempt to tank on purpose, its another to keep a team with a lot of flexibility and moveable assets. The Suns are building a bad, inflexible roster with no strengths and a ton of weaknesses.

You can rant about the loser mentality but good teams are not built by signing a bunch of mid level free agents to long contracts. That is how very bad teams are built and how franchises chip away at their fan base by going 34-48 for half a decade.

How is 3 years considered "long contracts"?

And Suns are taking chances on players. Beasley is a guy that has drawn comparisons in the past to a Carmelo/Durant type player. Not saying he is going to be that good but if you have watched him play, its obvious he is capable of doing it because he indeed has had a streak of games where he puts up 30 pts + a game. Now its up to the Suns FO to see if they can change his attitude and mindset and make him more consistent. Let me remind you, this guy was supposed to be a superstar coming out of the draft. Some even said to draft him over Rose. He's still only 23 years old so why is it so bad to take a chance on him? If he sucks, then hey just like everyone wants, we will get a high pick next season.

Dragic is a capable starting PG in this league and getting him back in Phoenix is great news. I don't see how you can hate on that.

Mayo is another Beasley type player. This guy was supposed to be better than LeBron and yes that will probably never happen but if we can sign him and get him to play at even 3/4 of the player he's been touted as, it would be a huge success.

And if you look at the Suns roster right now, there is not ONE single player over the age of 30 years old. Veteran leadership is always a good thing or else players will start meddling and fighting among themselves and ruin the locker room. It can also shunt the growth of young players like Morris and Marshall.

The thing is, the Suns aren't signing some scrubs. Their signing young players who have tremendous potential.

Its a win-win situation because if it doesn't pan out, guess what? We'll get a high draft pick next season and we can try to draft a star.

 

[Phrazbit]

Actually the teams that consistently tank are the ones that are stuck in that pattern. OKC is one of the few exceptions and the only reason they are is because Portland took Mr Glass.

We now have a bunch of solid role players and tradeable pieces that we can use. None of the contracts that we have signed thus far are untradeable

Well, Scola is literally untradable for the next year, which includes not being moved during next years draft.

Beasley's contract is untradable (for anything besides another equally bad contract) until he proves himself to be much better than he has played thus far.

I'd put Gortat as our only highly valued trade chip.

 

[sunsfan88]

do you enjoy being just good enough to not make the playoffs... forever?

Barring major/extended injury, this current Suns team will definitely make the playoffs.

 

[Mainstreet]

Do you really think they will be better than last year?

IMO, Nash has made winning look a lot easier than it really is. I like the Dragic signing, but he is a big drop from Nash, and Nash made everyone else better. Dragic is not that kind of facilitator.

I think the loss of Nash and Hill, one player who compromised 80% of our offense, the other who was by far our best defender, and both were tremendous leaders and glue guys are the kinds of losses we cant just plug with mediocre players and assume they will keep the ball rolling.

If you took Nash off last year's team it hard to imagine them being better than something like 16-50. Dragic's a big upgrade over our backups last year, so we wont be that bad, but this team is going to seriously struggle in all aspects of the game. It looks like an extremely bad defensive and rebounding team. We have one decent facilitator and very few players who can score on their own with any efficiency. A guy like Scola makes them marginally better but doesnt move the needle even close to competition.

I think 34-48 would be an optimistic number for this team, and thats assuming the addition of Mayo.

I can't believe you are seemingly making an argument that the Suns would be a better team going forward with Nash and Hill after the past two seasons. The Suns had no future with these two players. At least the Suns are moving forward with young players with potential. Irregardless of won/ loss record the Suns are finally moving forward towards the future.